Hybrid Power Systems
Our Hybrid Power System (HPS) is the world's first fully integrated energy solution that allows poor-grid and off-grid cell towers to reliably go or stay off-grid using only renewable, sustainable energy.
Our Hybrid Power Systems are:
Flexible
Created with each site's uniqueness in mind, Windstrip Hybrid Power Systems are a modular, adaptable energy solution that can be tailored to the unique needs of each telecommunications site.
Reliable
Windstrip Hybrid Power Systems are designed and engineered to combine wind, solar, and other energy sources to intelligently deliver "five nines" reliability to the telecommunications industry.
Renewable
Windstrip combines wind, solar, and other energy sources with innovative power management and battery storage, ensuring economical production, storage, and delivery of energy.
Key HPS Features
Meet the world's first fully integrated energy solution designed to meet the reliability and sustainability goals of the international cellular communications industry.
Dependability and Reliability
The HPS strives for 99.999% - or Five-Nines - up-time reliability through its multiple, alternate renewable energy sources that are fed into batteries, effectively internally firming the power supply to the BTS.
The backbone of the HPS is Windstrip’s proprietary smart-electronics system – Intelligent & Dynamic Energy Addressing system, or IDEAs.
Designed for Flexibility and Modularity
The HPS combines wind, solar, and other energy sources and integrates power management and battery storage in a safe, stable, and reliable manner to achieve economical production, storage, and delivery of energy while addressing the unique and demanding up-time needs of the telecommunications industry.
Engineered to be Customizable
Every site and its needs and challenges are different. Knowing this, we carefully designed and engineered the HPS for versatility. It can be scaled up and down, and various power source inputs can be switched or alternated, including non-renewable sources such as back-up generators, to meet the BTS owner’s and its tenant’s needs.
For additional site-driven flexibility, the HPS interoperates with both Windstrip’s proprietary Savonius drag-driven Windstrip Wing System and any other best-in-class vertical- or horizontal-axis wind systems, optimized to the site. The IDEAs™ smart-electronics are also designed to scale modularly with the power inputs-needs.
Compatible and Scalable
This complete modularity of the HPS not only addresses initial site compatibility, but it also facilitates rapid accommodation of BTS power demand growth by not requiring complete system changes, but only modular expansion.
Open-ended Solutions
Windstrip has additional flexibility in its HPS design, addressing existing tower sites that may not have the structural integrity to accommodate the HPS system.
To accommodate the varied size/demands and conditions present at BTS sites, Windstrip has developed both scaled-down HPS systems (for micro-tower applications) and also its PowerTower™ system.
The PowerTower™ is an integrated stand-alone tower that includes the scalable HPS. The PowerTower™ can stand separately from an adjacent BTS, supplying it all power needs, or the PowerTower™ can replace an existing tower, providing for the attachment of telecom equipment directly to the PowerTower™, just as it would to a traditional BTS.
Leveraging Innovation
Windstrip's initial focus is on the global telecommunications industry however, the Windstrip Hybrid Power System can be utilized in a variety of applications from Residential to Commercial to Industrial.
To see how we're leveraging our technology outside of telecom, visit our Projects page learn more.
The Problem
Currently, most operators use a diesel-solar combination that charges a 48V lead acid battery bank in order to power their off-grid or remote cellular towers.
These systems can be costly and inefficient.
How IDEAs Help
Intelligent & Dynamic Energy Addressing System
We designed a system of smart electronics capable of optimizing multiple energy sources for optimum system energy conversion.
In order to produce continuous power, IDEAs can incorporate a combination of energy sources, while its proprietary algorithms extract the maximum power to feed the telecom and battery load.
In addition, the system has an outside world interface, pushing data to the owner or operator. This ensures that you can track performance and proactively manage any pending emergencies.
Key Features of IDEAs
Modular Design
Electronics can be installed in parallel to optimally scale systems to meet any power requirement.
Maximum Power Point Tracking
Proprietary algorithms extract the maximum power, regardless of source.
Multi-Source Integration
A wide range of input voltages supports an unlimited number of different energy sources.
Smart Algorithms
Our intelligent algorithms learn and improve performance over time.
Real Time Monitor and Control
Track performance in real time and detect any issues before the arise.
No Dump Load
Smart technology reduces excess heat, increasing overall safety and longevity.
Our patented Savonius drag-driven wind turbine is designed and engineered for peak efficiency.
Our turbines capture the most energy per swept area.
Optimized
Elements such as caps and vents optimize capture of available wind energy.
Low Startup Wind Speeds
Windstrip's Savonius-style turbine can generate power with wind speeds as low as 5m/s.
Minimal Force Loads
The turbine exerts low forces on structures to which it is attached.
Durable
Wind turbine performance insensitive to minor blade damage.
Easily Mountable
A rigid, mountable superstructure supports the wind turbine, reducing costs by taking advantage of existing structures.
Wind Direction Independent
Energy is captured regardless of wind direction.
Modular
Additional wing segments can be added to increase wind energy captured.
Rapid Customer Payback
The nearly maintenance-free HPS, with a 10- to 20-year life, has a rapid time to payback on a CAPEX basis.
Below we chart the payback period for a real-life case study for an 3kW cell tower in India. For the case study we examine an off-grid and a grid-tied HPS versus the existing energy system at the site.
The 3kW system realizes nearly $9,000 and $4,400 annual savings and pay back in under three years and six years for the off-grid and grid-tied systems, respectively.
Windstrip HPS Payback ($ '000s)
- Off-Grid System
- Grid-Tied System
- On-Grid System (Current State)
- Off-Grid System
- Grid-Tied System
- On-Grid System (Current State)
Why Hybrid Matters
Hybrid Power Systems facilitate more power production, more consistently.
Inverse Energy Availability
This sample data set from Minnesota, USA shows the average daily renewable wind and solar resources available over the course of the year. What the data shows is an inverse relationship between wind and solar resource availability - generally speaking, wind is abundant when solar is not and vice versa.
Relying on a single power source exposes operators to seasonality and variability, which is not conducive to taking towers off-grid.
Daily Average Power Production (kWh)
- Wind
- Solar
- Wind
- Solar
Daily Average Power Production (kWh)
- Wind
- Solar
- HPS Power
- Wind
- Solar
- HPS Power
Leveraging 'Hybrid' with a Windstrip HPS
Utilizing a Windstrip HPS not only reduces variability and seasonality in power production, but also increases average power production over the course of the year.
A Windstrip HPS consisting of a 4 kW wind and 2 kW solar system would produce an average of 24.0 kWh daily throughout the year. Combined with appropriate storage, this HPS would take a 1kW system completely off grid.
Wind- or solar-only systems max out at 11.8 and 12.2 kWh, respectively.
So we make sure our Hybrid Power Systems are built to last and that help is never far away.
Real-Time Monitor and Control
Our online interface - part of our innovative IDEAs technology - allows operators to monitor the system in real-time and detect and preemptively correct any issues.
Transmitted via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a smartphone app, the system is easy and informative.
Designed and Built to Last
Nearly silent and vibration-free, our wind turbines are designed to last up to 20 years. Moreover, for the commercial-scale production of our turbines, we have engaged manufacturing partners that are recognized for their unique abilities in the design and manufacture of composite products.
In the field our systems have shown the ability to operate 15+ months without any required maintenance.
Local, Hands-on Maintenance
Through our technology and manufacturing partnerships and our local installation, implementation, and service arrangements, we are able to ensure that all Windstrip HPSs are properly installed, operated, and serviced.
Additionally, in partnership with our owner/operator customers, we will provide additional value-add solutions to ensure that our HPSs are maintained appropriately over their entire lifetimes.
Awards and Technical Recognition
- American Composites Sustainability Award, American Composites Manufacturers Association Award for Composite Excellence, 2013.
- First Place, Market Growth Category
- Abraham, J.P., Plourde, B.D., Small-Scale Wind Power – Design, Analysis, and Environmental Impacts, Momentum Press, June 2014.
- B.D. Plourde, E.D. Taylor, and J.P. Abraham, Financial and Implementation Considerations for Small-Scale Wind Power, in Small-Scale Wind Power – Design, Analysis, and Economic Impacts, Momentum Press, June 2014.
- B.D. Plourde, E.D. Taylor, P.O. Okaka, W.J. Minkowycz, and J.P. Abraham, Introduction to Small-Scale Wind Power, in Small-Scale Wind Power – Design, Analysis, and Economic Impacts, Momentum Press, June 2014.
Patents
PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/064477: MULTIPLE INPUT SINGLE OUTPUT HYBRID POWER SYSTEM covers the configuration of our electrical system (Loop) and a multiple input single output (MISO) system that uses a controller incorporating a proprietary algorithm to manage system wide limitations and maintain energy output within system parameters such that the energy output is at a maximum power point from the power sources and within the system parameters.
US 2013/0287591 A1: ROTOR BLADE FOR VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE covers the blade design including vents within the blade design. The rotor blade is for use with a vertical axis wind turbine and has a proprietary design that includes an uncovered vent to provide an unobstructed path for airflow through the blade member and taking advantage of the geometries of the high drag side and the low drag side of the blade.